Category: Random Discussions

I have been watching the Writer’s Den grow over the last year, just as I have watched my blog grow. I have debated several times over buying a membership but just couldn’t afford it. I would love to earn a free 1 year membership!

There are so many resources; e-books, webinars, classes, etc. that come included and I definitely can use the guidance they would provide me to go from a non-professional to a professional status.

Of course, many of my long time followers know, I have been writing as long as I can remember. It is my truest passion. I love my jewelry making too but writing is definitely number one!

Several people have been encouraging me over the last year to pursue publication of my poems, which is something that I DEFINITELY desire to do but haven’t the faintest idea of how to go about it. I believe the Den will provide me with the tools I need to be more confident in myself and gain me some experience as well.

My greatest goal in life has always been to write! Up until the last year, it was a dream. Over this past year, with the growth of this blog, I have been blessed with the knowledge that I just might be a better writer than I ever thought I was.

The only thing that stops me is this; as many of you know, I am disabled with MS. I draw on the Social Security Disability Benefits that I have paid into since I was 15 years old. I don’t feel bad about doing that, since I’m not scamming the system, but I fear losing those benefits since that is my sole contribution to our household income. If I’m not good enough of a writer to make a regular income and I lose my benefits over a fluke, one time publication, I will play heck trying to get them back.

So, that is what has stopped me up until this point in time. Now with the new laws and S.S. cuts they are trying to pass, I may need to step out in faith and see what my future holds, writing professionally?

And, to sum it up, that is the reason I think that I should win the contest for a 1 yr free membership!

Remember when I showed you some of my creations, like this example? Well, I have a whole lot more than just this and the time has come to start selling some of them. So I was thinking about doing it online but I’m not sure how I should approach it.

I was thinking about starting a new blog that is specifically for “my creations” and doing everything through PayPal.

I need some advice, anybody got some knowledge in this area? Do you think they would sell?

I have them reasonably priced, I think, and would just do free shipping beings that they aren’t all that heavy and wouldn’t cost that much to ship.

Like this:

Well, I don’t ever want to go through that again!!!!!! After much anxiety and prayers (thank you everyone who added theirs to mine), Christopher is doing better. They have decided that he has Croup. They gave him steroids and several breathing treatments, x-rays of the chest also . Kept him for a while for observation and then sent him home last night.

I’m not sure my poor daughter could have taken a longer process than what they had to go through. It’s always so frightening when something happens to your baby! (or grandchild for that matter).

You all were quick to respond to my prayer request and Shawna & Christopher appreciate you ever so much!! Thank you from all three of us!

Shawna just called me about 20 minutes ago crying and was a nervous wreck. She was just making her way to the Urgent Care Center with Christopher. He woke up this morning and couldn’t breath. He was panicking and asking her if he was going to die.

Then she text me back and said they were sending him to the hospital for observation after they gave him a drink with some steroids in it. They were going to send them by ambulance in case he had another attack because they didn’t want her to be driving if he did.

She freaking out and I’m praying!! Will you join me please?

I will let you know as soon as I find anything out. I will probably be taking off for the hospital if she needs me to come. Just waiting impatiently for another text message 😦

Saul’s anger puzzles David. What has he done but good? He has brought musical healing to Saul’s tortured spirit, hope to the enfeebled nation. He is the Abraham Lincoln of the Hebrew calamity, saving the republic and doing so modestly and honestly. He behaves “wisely in all his ways” (18:114) “all Israel and Judah loved David” (18:16) David behaves “more wisely than all the servants of Saul, so that his name became highly esteemed.” (18:30)

Yet, Mount Saul keeps erupting, rewarding David’s deeds with flying spears and murder plots. We understand David’s question to Jonathan: “What have I done? What is my iniquity, and what is my sin before your father, that he seeks my life?” (20:1)

Jonathan has no answer to give, for no answer exists. Who can justify the rage of a Saul?

Who knows why a father torments a child, a wife belittles her husband, a boss pits employees against each other? But they do. Sauls still rage on our planet. dictators torture, employers seduce, ministers abuse, priests molest, the strong and mighty control and cajole the vulnerable and innocent. Sauls still stalk Davids.

How does God respond to such cases? Nuke the nemesis? We may want him to. He’s been known to extract a few Herods and Pharaohs. How he will treat yours, I can’t say. But how he will treat you, I can. He will send you a Jonathan.

God counters Saul’s cruelty with Jonathan’s loyalty. Jonathan could have been as jealous as Saul. As Saul’s son, he stood to inherit the throne. A noble soldier himself, he was fighting Philistines while David was still feeding sheep.

Jonathan had reason to despise David, but he didn’t. He was gracious. Gracious because the hand of the Master Weaver took his and David’s hearts and stitched a seam between them. “The soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.” (18:1)…

Oh, to have a friend like Jonathan. A soul mate who protects you, who seeks nothing but your interests, wants nothing but your happiness. An ally who lets you be you. You feel safe with that person. No need to weigh thoughts or measure words. You know his or her faithful hand will sift the chaff from the grain, kep what matters and with a breath of kindness, blow the rest away. God gave David such a friend.

He gave you one as well. David found a companion in a prince of Israel; you can find a friend in the King of Israel, Jesus Christ. Has he not made a covenant with you? Among his final words were these: “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matt. 28:20)

Has he not clothed you? He offers you “white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of you nakedness may not be revealed” (Rev. 3:18). Christ cloaks you with clothing suitable for heaven.

In fact, he outdoes Jonathan. He not only gives you his robe; he dons your rages. “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Cor. 5:21 NIV).

Jesus dresses you. And, like Jonathan, he equips you. You are invited to “put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firn against all strategies and tricks of the Devil” (Eph. 6:11 NIV).

From his armory he hands you the belt of truth, the body armor of righteousness, the shield of faith, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God (vv. 13-17)

Just as Jonathan protected David, Jesus vows to protect you. “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them away from me” (John 10:28 NLT)

You long for one true friend? You have one. And because you do, you have a choice. You can focus on your Saul or your Jonathan, ponder the malic of your monster or the kindness of your Christ.

Beverly chooses to maximize Christ. Isn’t easy. How can you shift your focus away from the man who raped you? He entered Beverly’s home under the guise of official business. She had every reason to trust him; personal acquaintance and professional associate. He worked for the state and requested an audience with Beverly. But he took more than her time.

He denied and successfully covered up the deed. As he continues to move up the political ladder, Beverly spots him on the evening news, encounters him at parties. While he feigns innocence, she churns within.

But not like she used to. Two years after the rape she met her Jonathan. A friend told her about Christ – his protection, his provision, and his invitation. She accepted it. Memories of the rape still dog her, but they don’t control her. She isn’t left alone with her Saul any more. she seeks Christ rather than revenge; she measures choices against his mercy, not her violator’s cruelty. Beverly ponders and praises the living presence of Jesus. Doing so heals her soul.

Major in your evil emperor, if you choose. Paint horns on his picture. Throw darts at her portrait. Make and memorize a list of everything the Spam-brain took; you childhood, career, marriage, health. Live a Saul saturated life. Wallow in the sludge of pain. You’ll feel better, won’t you?

Or will you?

…to be continued.

He makes his point very well, doesn’t he?! I think it all boils down to something I thought of quite a while ago, we can be bitter or we can be better! Just my thought.

Terry has become a good friend to me since she started following my blog. Please take a moment to stop by and visit her. She is a wonderful writer, a caregiver to her brother who has Parkinson’s, and an inspiration to all.

The Ten Commandments are from GOD, and are the standards to which we are to hold ourselves. The 10 commands can easily be grouped into two groups — love for God and love for others. These commandments where given to Moses and the Children of Israel in the wilderness after their escape from slavery in Egypt.
Can you imagine how much better our world would be IF all people lived and followed these commandments?

Ten Commandments from the BibleExodus 20:3-17. :

1. You shall have no other gods before Me.2. You shall not make unto thee any graven image.3. You shall not take the name of the Lord God in vain.4. Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.5. Honor your father and your mother.6. You shall not murder.7. You shall not commit adultery.8. You shall not steal.9. You shall not bear false witness.10. You shall not covet.

RULES: The rules for this award are that you must answer the following ten questions and nominate ten blogs that you think deserve the award.

4. What are you wearing now? – a sports bra and shorts (it’s hot in here)

5. What scares you? – losing my parents

6. What are the best and worst things about blogging? – I love all of the wonder people that I have “met” through blogging and I hate letting people down when I’m sick and don’t respond to their comments.

7. What was the last website you looked at? – Terry’s blog for this award.

8. If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be? – As I said earlier, not a thing.

9. Slankets, yes or no?– Since I don’t know what that is, I’ll say no.

10. Tell us something about the person who nominated you.– I find Terry to be a warm hearted and caring individual who selflessly took on the task of caring for her brother after he became I’ll. She is a good friend to me and a true inspiration, as well as a testimony to the strength of love.

Bonus Question: What is your testimony for Jesus Christ? – Well, most of you already know my story and for those who don’t, I’ll put it in a short synopsis: I have survived; MS, physical/emotional/mental abuse, I am a recovered alcoholic (I can say recovered because it’s been over 20 years now) and a recovering drug addict (meth, cocaine and crack – not long enough yet for me to say “recovered”). God has brought me through it all, even when I purposely ignored Him and thought my life was worthless, He stood right beside me every step of the way. If you’d like more than that, check out my “About Me” page for the details.

Okay, now for my nominations to pass this award on to. In light of the type of award this is, I chose some people that I think of as “people of faith” and who would appreciate this award as much as I did.